Hacky Certified Web Application Pentester
HCWAP · Level 2Introduction
Test websites and APIs against the OWASP Top 10. Three levels, each self-paced, each with its own exam and certificate.
Buy now- Author: Gaurav Sharma
- Level: Level 2 · Practitioner
- Study time: 48 hours
- Certification: Hacky Certified Web Application Pentester
Curriculum
6 modules · 24 hours of guided learning · self-paced, with hands-on labs
Job-oriented, scenario-led progression in hacky certified web application pentester. Exercises are conducted only in authorized training environments. The level builds on previous levels while adding distinct techniques, deeper evidence requirements and more complex capstones.
Prerequisites: Basic IT literacy and willingness to use Linux/Windows command lines.
Tool stack: Burp Suite Community/Professional, OWASP ZAP, ffuf, sqlmap, Postman, nuclei, Docker Juice Shop
6h guided instruction + 13h guided/independent practical labs + 5h reading, review and assessment. These are total learning hours, not 24 hours of live lectures.
Module 01HTTP, browsers, cookies and web architecture4 h
Coverage. Identify core concepts, demonstrate the workflow, and record reliable evidence.
Practical. Complete a guided lab with baseline and expected evidence.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 02Testing scope and OWASP Web Top 10 20254 h
Coverage. Identify core concepts, demonstrate the workflow, and record reliable evidence.
Practical. Complete a guided lab with baseline and expected evidence.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 03Burp proxy, repeater and evidence capture4 h
Coverage. Identify core concepts, demonstrate the workflow, and record reliable evidence.
Practical. Complete a guided lab with baseline and expected evidence.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 04Authentication and session management4 h
Coverage. Identify core concepts, demonstrate the workflow, and record reliable evidence.
Practical. Complete a guided lab with baseline and expected evidence.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 05Access control and IDOR/BOLA4 h
Coverage. Identify core concepts, demonstrate the workflow, and record reliable evidence.
Practical. Complete a guided lab with baseline and expected evidence.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 06Injection and input validation4 h
Coverage. Identify core concepts, demonstrate the workflow, and record reliable evidence.
Practical. Complete a guided lab with baseline and expected evidence.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Guided scenario: demonstrate correct methodology, collect evidence and submit a short structured report.
20% knowledge checks, 60% hands-on practical, 20% evidence-based reporting Recommended pass: 70% overall with mandatory completion of safety and evidence checkpoints.
Final exam
A 2-hour online exam with a 70% pass mark. Recommended pass: 70% overall with mandatory completion of safety and evidence checkpoints. Attempts are free until you pass. The exam opens 7 days after purchase.
Curriculum
9 modules · 48 hours of guided learning · self-paced, with hands-on labs
Job-oriented, scenario-led progression in hacky certified web application pentester. Exercises are conducted only in authorized training environments. The level builds on previous levels while adding distinct techniques, deeper evidence requirements and more complex capstones.
Prerequisites: Completion of Level 1 or demonstrably equivalent practical skills.
Tool stack: Burp Suite Community/Professional, OWASP ZAP, ffuf, sqlmap, Postman, nuclei, Docker Juice Shop
12h guided instruction + 26h guided/independent practical labs + 10h reading, review and assessment. These are total learning hours, not 48 hours of live lectures.
Module 01Authentication and session management6 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 02Access control and IDOR/BOLA6 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 03Injection and input validation6 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 04Cross-site scripting and browser security5 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 05CSRF and cross-origin controls5 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 06File upload and path traversal5 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 07API discovery, REST and GraphQL testing5 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 08SSRF, deserialization and request smuggling5 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 09Business logic and race conditions5 h
Coverage. Investigate a realistic scenario, compare alternative approaches, tune decisions and document remediation.
Practical. Complete a case-based lab using multiple evidence sources and a verification checklist.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Multi-system case: independently correlate artifacts, prioritize findings and propose tested remediation.
20% knowledge checks, 60% hands-on practical, 20% evidence-based reporting Recommended pass: 70% overall with mandatory completion of safety and evidence checkpoints.
Final exam
A 24-hour practical exam in a hosted lab, then 24 hours to submit your report. Recommended pass: 70% overall with mandatory completion of safety and evidence checkpoints. Attempts are free until you pass. The exam opens 7 days after purchase.
Curriculum
9 modules · 72 hours of guided learning · self-paced, with hands-on labs
Job-oriented, scenario-led progression in hacky certified web application pentester. Exercises are conducted only in authorized training environments. The level builds on previous levels while adding distinct techniques, deeper evidence requirements and more complex capstones.
Prerequisites: Completion of Level 2 or equivalent professional experience; comfortable with independent investigations.
Tool stack: Burp Suite Community/Professional, OWASP ZAP, ffuf, sqlmap, Postman, nuclei, Docker Juice Shop
18h guided instruction + 40h guided/independent practical labs + 14h reading, review and assessment. These are total learning hours, not 72 hours of live lectures.
Module 01CSRF and cross-origin controls8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 02File upload and path traversal8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 03API discovery, REST and GraphQL testing8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 04SSRF, deserialization and request smuggling8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 05Business logic and race conditions8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 06JWT, OAuth and API authorization8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 07Advanced multi-step exploit chains in labs8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 08Secure remediation verification8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Module 09Web application assessment capstone8 h
Coverage. Lead an integrated assessment, validate assumptions, automate repeatable checks and produce defensible findings.
Practical. Complete a scenario-driven challenge, defend findings, and validate controls or mitigations.
Evidence. annotated observations, reproducible steps, risk/impact notes and a concise technical recommendation.
Professional engagement: plan, execute and defend a complex scenario with peer review and executive/technical reporting. HACKY SECURITY | CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM | 2026 3
20% knowledge checks, 60% hands-on practical, 20% evidence-based reporting Recommended pass: 70% overall with mandatory completion of safety and evidence checkpoints.
Final exam
A 48-hour scenario exam, assessed on your written report. Recommended pass: 70% overall with mandatory completion of safety and evidence checkpoints. Attempts are free until you pass. The exam opens 7 days after purchase.
What you receive
Course author
Gaurav Sharma
Founder & CISO, Hacky SecurityOffensive and Defensive Security Expert
Gaurav founded Hacky Security and leads its SOC, curriculum and AI security work. He has trained more than 40,000 professionals and has taught AI security at IIT Madras.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy any software?
When does my course open?
Can I start at Level 2?
More from the offensive track
Hacky Certified Penetration Tester
Test company networks and write reports clients can act on.
Hacky Certified Mobile Pentester
Test Android and iOS apps and the servers behind them.
Hacky Certified Social Engineering Analyst
Run approved awareness tests and measure the human risk.